Horse-collar fastening



' (No Model.)

' J. T; ROWLANDS.

- HORSE COLLAR FASTENING. I N0. 364,37 5. Patented June 7, 1887.

0 II- 1 r V UNITED STATES PATENT UEEICE.

JOHN T. ROWLANDS, OF RAOINE, WISCONSIN.

HORSE-COLLAR FASTENING.

SPECIFICATION fcrming part of Letters Patent No. 364,375, dated June 7, 1887.

(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN T. ROWLANDS, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Racine, in the county of Racine and State of WVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in HorsoOollar Fasteners and StrapHolders, and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as'will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same. My invention relates to horse-collar fastenlngs; and it consists of a certain construction and arrangement of a coupling to be attached to the lower end of a horse-collar, by means of which the two parts of the collar may be readily locked together and as readily detached.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I have illustrated in the annexed drawings one form thereof which I have used with practical success, and which will be fully described in the ensuing specification, and particularly pointed out in the claims at the close thereof.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents an elevation of so much of a horse-collar as will suffice to illustrate the application of my invention. Fig. 2 is apcrspcctive view of the two parts composing my coupler. Fig. 3 represents a vertical longitudinal central'section ofthc coupling, the two parts being shown in their-locked position. Fig. 4 represents an end elevation of the couplers, looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 3.

The coupling consists of the two socket-castings A and B, each of which has an open and a closed end. The open ends a and bfot" the respective sockct'castings are adapted to receive the respective ends,C and D,of the collar, and which ends may be secured in any suitable or convenient manner. The closed end a of the socket-castiug A is constructed with an elongated opening, A, for the reception of a projection, 13, cast or otherwise formed on the closed end b of the socket-casting B. This projection 13 is constructed in the form of a flat staple, with its edges and corners chamfered to admitof its freeinsertion in the opening A, and it is of such dimensions at the point where it connects with the casting B that when it is inserted in said opening it will fit snugly therein.

The casting A is constructed with a slot on its under side, through which passes a lever, E, which lever lies adjacent to the closed end a of the casting, and is pivoted to said casting at e. The lower end of this lever is constructed in the form of a loop, (1, and the upper end thereof is constructed in the form of a tongue, 0', adapted to enter the openihg c inthe projection B. The under side of the lever E is so shaped that a portion of said lever, when in its locked position, will lie flush with a part of the under surface of the socket-casting engaged by the hames.

It will be readily seen that when it is desired to lock the couplings together it is only necessary to insert the projection 13 in the opening A and turn the lever E from the position shown in dotted lines to the position shown in full lines, Fig. 4, when the tongue 6 of lever E will pass up through the opening 0 in the said projection and hold the same firmly in place.

The socketcasting B is provided on its under side with alug, f, to which is pivotally secured a loop or strap-holdcr, d. It will be observed that the loops d and d not only serve as strap-holders, but also serve to prevent the hames from slipping from the collar.

It will also be observed that in my construction I avoid the use of any spring construc-.

tion to hold the tongue 0' in engagement with the projection B.

The lever E will, in all ordinary conditions, be kept in a closed position, even if the hames are not upon the collar; but when the martingale is attached. to the loop (1, or the hames are fastened in place, the lever is held beyond the possibility of movement.

XVhat I claim, and desire to soon re by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the socket-castings, a projection on one of said castings having an opening therethrough, an opening corresponding to the projection in the other casting for the reception of said projection, and a pivoted lever having a part passing through the opening in said projection.

2. The combination, substantially as before FOO set forth, of the socket-castings, the projection ing on a lever locking the two castings toon one of said castings, a corresponding opengether, the arrangement being substantially as ing in the other casting for the reception of described, whereby, when placed in operative I 5 said projection, and a pivoted lever engaging position, one of said strap-holders is on the 5 the opening in said projection, a portion of front edge and the other on the rear edge of said lever, when closed, lying flush with a part the collar, as set forth.

of the under surface of the socket-casting en- In testimony whereofI affix my signature in gaged by the hanies, all arranged to operate 1 presence of two witnesses.

substantially as described. JOHN T. ROWVLANDS. IO 3. A collar-fastener composed of two socket- Vitnesses:

castings, each of which is provided with a loop CHARLES H. LEE,

or strapholder, one of said strapholders be- GEO. L. EDDY. 

